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December 08, 2011

New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) In order check pilferages in the public distribution system, Delhi government today launched an online platform through which beneficiaries will be able to check all details about supply, disbursal and availability of food items. The project has been launched on a pilot basis for Krishna Nagar and Gandhi Nagar areas of the city. "People will be able to know about all details regarding supply, availability and distribution of items through the online portal," said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Harun Yusuf after launching the 'e-PDS' portal at a function. He said government plans to extend the project to the entire city. Currently every BPL family gets six kgs of sugar per month at Rs 13.50 per kg, 13 kgs of rice at Rs 6.30 per kg, 32 kgs of wheat at Rs 4.80 per kg per month and 22
litres of kerosene at Rs 12.32 per litre. Delhi has around 4.5 lakh BPL families. The Above Poverty Line families as well as people under Antodaya scheme also get subsidised food items from the ration shop under the public distribution system. Last year, in the Delhi Assembly Yusuf had admitted that there was corruption in the PDS. The city government had decided to issue bio-metric cards to beneficiaries to ensure that food articles meant for the beneficiaries "actually reach them".

A major “Jan Manch” on the National Food Security Act was organized by Right to Food Campaign at Jantar Mantar, Delhi on 29th November 2011. The Jan Manch was organized to demand for a universal PDS and to ensure the right to food of the people. Representatives of various groups including domestic workers, migrant workers, construction workers, Dalits, minorities, and those who ought to be in the BPL( but will be left out in the ongoing census) for all over the country participated in the protest. NAMHHR, represented by Dr. Mira Shiva, Jashodhara Dasgupta and Aditi Sood joined the protest since it works in solidarity with the demands of the RTF Campaign on maternal nutrition and maternity benefits. Other Human Rights groups, Worker’s organizations, Women's organizations and progressive political parties supported the campaign.

Many distinguished speakers also joined the campaign. MPs from various political parties gave speeches on the topics which dealt with:
• Demand a Universal PDS, so that ALL vulnerable, and the deprived get included
• Reject the proposal of replacing PDS with Cash Transfers
• Demand universalisation with quality of ICDS
• Demand appropriate MSPs and decentralized procurement of not just rice and wheat but millets as well

A Street theatre was also performed by students to show the effect of the government proposal of replacing PDS with cash transfers on rural population